To set up audio in Streamlabs Desktop, choose your microphone under Settings > Audio > Mic/Auxiliary Device 1, then configure desktop audio separately. On Windows, match Streamlabs’ Desktop Audio device to the default device in Windows Sound Settings. On macOS, capturing computer audio requires audio-routing software added as a Mic/Aux source; that is separate from selecting a microphone.
Choose the microphone you want Streamlabs to use
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Connect or enable the microphone you intend to use. A headset or webcam microphone is valid; an external microphone is optional.
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If your operating system asks for microphone access, allow it for Streamlabs Desktop.
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Open Settings > Audio and select the intended device in Mic/Auxiliary Device 1. Do not assume Streamlabs picked the right input automatically.
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Speak into the mic and check its channel in the Audio Mixer. The meter should respond to your voice. If it does not, use the troubleshooting section below before adding filters.
Streamlabs’ Quick Start Guide: Setting Up Streamlabs Desktop for Streaming and Get started with Streamlabs Desktop describe choosing the microphone during setup and changing it later in Audio settings.
Set up computer and game audio separately
Microphone input and desktop sound are separate routes. A working mic does not mean game, browser, or system audio is configured, and changing Desktop Audio does not select the microphone.
Windows: match Desktop Audio to the default output
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In Windows Sound Settings, identify the output device currently set as the default audio device.
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In Streamlabs Desktop’s Audio Mixer, open the Desktop Audio device selector and choose that same device.
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Play the game or other sound you want included and watch the Desktop Audio meter respond.
This is the Windows setup described by Streamlabs’ quick-start guide. If Windows changes its default output device—for example, when headphones are connected—check that Streamlabs is still pointed at the intended device.
macOS: route desktop sound through audio-routing software
Streamlabs’ quick-start guide says that macOS desktop-audio capture requires audio-routing software, added as a Mic/Aux source; its guide points users to a BlackHole walkthrough. This requirement concerns capturing computer sound, not using a Mac microphone. Confirm that any routing software you choose is compatible with your current macOS and Streamlabs Desktop versions; the documented setup material does not establish current compatibility for every release.
Open the advanced audio controls
In the Audio Mixer, click the gear to open advanced audio settings. Expand a section to find controls such as device properties, audio monitoring, and mono downmixing. Streamlabs has changed its audio-settings layout over time, so if the screen differs from an older guide, start from the mixer’s audio gear and inspect the current Audio settings. Streamlabs’ audio-settings redesign article was last updated October 8, 2025.
Capture only one application when needed
Use Application Audio Capture when you want the stream to hear a chosen application rather than all computer audio. Streamlabs documents a workflow that adds this source and selects the target window.
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Add Application Audio Capture as a source.
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Choose the window or application whose sound you want.
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Disable Desktop Audio in Settings > Audio for this workflow. Otherwise, the stream can also receive all computer audio, defeating the selective capture.
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Play sound in the selected application and check its mixer meter. Also check what the stream or recording will hear before going live.
Streamlabs also documents a virtual audio cable approach for more involved selective-routing setups. That setup can depend on the operating system and audio-device configuration; the steps above describe Application Audio Capture, not a universal virtual-cable configuration.
Add microphone filters only to solve a specific problem
Open the microphone source’s gear menu and choose Filters. Start with the problem you can hear, rather than stacking every available filter. Streamlabs describes these filter roles:
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| Problem or goal | Filter to consider | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Steady fan or air-conditioning hum | Noise Suppression | Reduces steady background noise. |
| Low-level room sound while you are not speaking | Noise Gate | Blocks quieter sound when you are silent. |
| Speech volume varies too much | Compressor | Smooths loud and quiet speech levels. |
| Occasional excessive peaks | Limiter | Caps peaks to help prevent them from becoming too loud. |
| Background noise needs less abrupt reduction than a gate | Expander | Reduces quieter sound more flexibly than a gate. |
| Input level needs adjustment | Gain | Adjusts the microphone level; excessive gain can also raise background noise. |
Filter behavior depends on the mic, room, and speaking level. Make one change at a time and listen to a short test recording or preview; a filter name alone cannot guarantee a good result for every voice or space.
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If you record for editing, Streamlabs supports assigning inputs to separate recording tracks so that microphone and desktop audio can be handled independently in post-production. This is an optional recording workflow, not a requirement for a normal live mix. Use a separate-track setup when you need that editing control; otherwise, a correctly balanced live mix is simpler.
Troubleshoot common Streamlabs audio problems
The microphone meter does not move
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Check that your operating system has granted Streamlabs microphone permission.
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Confirm that the intended mic is selected under Settings > Audio > Mic/Auxiliary Device 1; reselect it if necessary.
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Check the mic’s physical connection and make sure it is not muted on the device, headset, or in Streamlabs.
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The mic works, but game or system sound is missing
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Check the Desktop Audio device separately from the microphone. On Windows, compare it with the default device in Windows Sound Settings.
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On macOS, confirm that audio-routing software is configured as the Mic/Aux source for desktop-audio capture.
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Play the sound source and watch the relevant mixer meter to locate which route is not receiving audio.
The stream hears the whole computer instead of one application
If using Application Audio Capture, disable Desktop Audio in Settings > Audio. Leaving both routes active can include system-wide sound in addition to the selected application.
The voice sounds noisy or clips
Avoid raising gain excessively, since that can increase background noise. For steady hum, try Noise Suppression; for peaks that become too loud, consider a Limiter. Make a short test recording after adjusting filters and listen for the result before relying on the settings live.
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